The kids asked me to light the fake fireplace but I don't seem to have
gas coming out. Is there normally a second shutoff that I don't know
about? http://imageshack.us/a/img547/1227/h...afireplace.jpg

Some details:
About a year ago we switched propane companies and we paid about $120 for
the required inspection and my wife tells me he lit the fireplaces and
all worked well.

Nothing has changed since, and we heat the house, water, and kitchen
range with propane so the 500 gallon tank is definitely full enough to
work.

To the left of the fireplace is a "key" which I've turned - but I'm not
quite sure how to tell if the gas is open.

Also there is a starter - but it doesn't seem to work. The starter
doesn't bother me so much as I have those long lighters but what gets me
is that I don't smell gas (which I easily smell from the kitchen stove).

Is there perhaps a second shutoff that I don't know about (none of the
fireplaces seem to have gas so that's why I ask)?

Jim wrote:
The kids asked me to light the fake fireplace but I don't seem to have
gas coming out. Is there normally a second shutoff that I don't know
about? http://imageshack.us/a/img547/1227/h...afireplace.jpg

Some details:
About a year ago we switched propane companies and we paid about $120 for
the required inspection and my wife tells me he lit the fireplaces and
all worked well.

Nothing has changed since, and we heat the house, water, and kitchen
range with propane so the 500 gallon tank is definitely full enough to
work.

To the left of the fireplace is a "key" which I've turned - but I'm not
quite sure how to tell if the gas is open.

Also there is a starter - but it doesn't seem to work. The starter
doesn't bother me so much as I have those long lighters but what gets me
is that I don't smell gas (which I easily smell from the kitchen stove).

Is there perhaps a second shutoff that I don't know about (none of the
fireplaces seem to have gas so that's why I ask)?

Hi,
Gas FP usually has pilot light burning all the time. If you know how to
light the jot water tank, it is same thing to light the FP. I just leave
pilot all tje time. Real old gas FP just have a key to turn on the gas,
then you light it up with a match stick after flue damper is open.

Do you have electrical wire involved with your FP? Then there would be
Piezo lighter or pilot light burner and gas valve some where may be
underneath the FP.

In article , Jim
wrote:

The kids asked me to light the fake fireplace but I don't seem to have
gas coming out. Is there normally a second shutoff that I don't know
about? http://imageshack.us/a/img547/1227/h...afireplace.jpg

Some details:
About a year ago we switched propane companies and we paid about $120 for
the required inspection and my wife tells me he lit the fireplaces and
all worked well.

Nothing has changed since, and we heat the house, water, and kitchen
range with propane so the 500 gallon tank is definitely full enough to
work.

To the left of the fireplace is a "key" which I've turned - but I'm not
quite sure how to tell if the gas is open.

Also there is a starter - but it doesn't seem to work. The starter
doesn't bother me so much as I have those long lighters but what gets me
is that I don't smell gas (which I easily smell from the kitchen stove).

Is there perhaps a second shutoff that I don't know about (none of the
fireplaces seem to have gas so that's why I ask)?

I dunno how yours works, but I'd be figuring it out in advance of
fiddling with it after my experience in a vacation rental. Damn near
blew my face off with a gas fireplace that I didn't know how to light.
Thought I'd figure it out as I went along, but by the time I did, the
gas had been coming out for quite a while, and I neither heard nor
smelled it.

On Dec 15, 6:35*pm, Jim wrote:
The kids asked me to light the fake fireplace but I don't seem to have
gas coming out. Is there normally a second shutoff that I don't know
about?http://imageshack.us/a/img547/1227/h...afireplace.jpg

Some details:
About a year ago we switched propane companies and we paid about $120 for
the required inspection and my wife tells me he lit the fireplaces and
all worked well.

Nothing has changed since, and we heat the house, water, and kitchen
range with propane so the 500 gallon tank is definitely full enough to
work.

To the left of the fireplace is a "key" which I've turned - but I'm not
quite sure how to tell if the gas is open.

Also there is a starter - but it doesn't seem to work. The starter
doesn't bother me so much as I have those long lighters but what gets me
is that I don't smell gas (which I easily smell from the kitchen stove).

Is there perhaps a second shutoff that I don't know about (none of the
fireplaces seem to have gas so that's why I ask)?

Do you know if the Key is really for the gas, or could it be opening a
damper in the chimney flue? Have you contacted whomever did the
inspection and "lit the fireplaces" ?

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
...


I dunno how yours works, but I'd be figuring it out in advance of
fiddling with it after my experience in a vacation rental. Damn near
blew my face off with a gas fireplace that I didn't know how to light.
Thought I'd figure it out as I went along, but by the time I did, the
gas had been coming out for quite a while, and I neither heard nor
smelled it.

Easy solution
Put a candle close enough to the burner to light it when the gas starts
coming out
The start fiddling around to figure out how to turn it on

Attila Iskander wrote:

Put a candle close enough to the burner to light it
when the gas starts coming out.

That's actually the problem.

The gas doesn't start coming out.

When I turn the square key and the on/off switch, I still smell nothing
(whereas, at the stove, I can smell the stink they put in the propane for
that purpose).

I think there may be a third switch, in addition to the key (which, as
noted, might be for a damper and not for the gas - but my wife tells me
the inspection guy said it was for the gas - but she never gets anything
right so I'm not sure myself. I wish I had been there as we wasted the
money for the inspection if we didn't learn from the guy.)

Jim wrote:
Attila Iskander wrote:

Put a candle close enough to the burner to light it
when the gas starts coming out.

That's actually the problem.

The gas doesn't start coming out.

When I turn the square key and the on/off switch, I still smell
nothing (whereas, at the stove, I can smell the stink they put in the
propane for that purpose).

I think there may be a third switch, in addition to the key (which, as
noted, might be for a damper and not for the gas - but my wife tells
me the inspection guy said it was for the gas - but she never gets
anything right so I'm not sure myself. I wish I had been there as we
wasted the money for the inspection if we didn't learn from the guy.)

My guess is that the gas won't come out without the pilot light being lit --
a safety feature -- so you won't smell gas.

Check out these YouTube videos and see if that helps:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrU-35CBOFk



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn8mRmgTJpQ



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=324NHDv-yXU

Jim,

Outside of the fireplace I see a key-like thing which may be a valve.
It's on the left in your picture. I think you refer to this.
Inside your fireplace, when I blow up your picture, I see some plumbing,
I think, coming from the left. Just under the left end of your gas logs, I
see another valve. I could be wrong because I've blown it up a lot. I see a
black rectangle with a lighter colored circle. It's next to the grate and
under the log. I even see writing next to this "knob".
Please move the socks.

Dave M.

David L. Martel wrote:

Outside of the fireplace I see a key-like thing
I think, coming from the left. Just under the left end of your gas logs,
I see another valve. I could be wrong because I've blown it up a lot. I
see a black rectangle with a lighter colored circle. It's next to the
grate and under the log. I even see writing next to this "knob".

You are correct in what you see (although I'm not sure the purpose of the
key-like thing).

Here are four full-sized pictures in an album:
http://imageshack.us/g/233/fireplacelighting1.jpg/

David L. Martel wrote:

Please move the socks.

Here are the pictures you seek!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...lighting1.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...lighting2.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...lighting3.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...lighting4.jpg/

"Jim" wrote in message
...
Attila Iskander wrote:

Put a candle close enough to the burner to light it
when the gas starts coming out.

That's actually the problem.

The gas doesn't start coming out.

When I turn the square key and the on/off switch, I still smell nothing
(whereas, at the stove, I can smell the stink they put in the propane for
that purpose).

I think there may be a third switch, in addition to the key (which, as
noted, might be for a damper and not for the gas - but my wife tells me
the inspection guy said it was for the gas - but she never gets anything
right so I'm not sure myself. I wish I had been there as we wasted the
money for the inspection if we didn't learn from the guy.)

And that's is why I added the NEXT line
"The start fiddling around to figure out how to turn it on"
while you work your way back along the gas line.

"Jim" wrote in message
...
David L. Martel wrote:

Outside of the fireplace I see a key-like thing
I think, coming from the left. Just under the left end of your gas logs,
I see another valve. I could be wrong because I've blown it up a lot. I
see a black rectangle with a lighter colored circle. It's next to the
grate and under the log. I even see writing next to this "knob".

You are correct in what you see (although I'm not sure the purpose of the
key-like thing).

Here are four full-sized pictures in an album:
http://imageshack.us/g/233/fireplacelighting1.jpg/


Looks the the key on the left of the fireplace is the master valve

You then need to light a pilot light following the instructions on the black
button in the picture on the right

First thing to do is figure out which position of the master valve (left of
the fireplace is on, which is off)
You can do this by turning it to one position, and then try to light the
pilot
If that does not work, turn the master to the other position and try again

On Dec 16, 3:01*pm, " Attila Iskander"
wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message

...





Attila Iskander wrote:

Put a candle close enough to the burner to light it
when the gas starts coming out.

That's actually the problem.

The gas doesn't start coming out.

When I turn the square key and the on/off switch, I still smell nothing
(whereas, at the stove, I can smell the stink they put in the propane for
that purpose).

I think there may be a third switch, in addition to the key (which, as
noted, might be for a damper and not for the gas - but my wife tells me
the inspection guy said it was for the gas - but she never gets anything
right so I'm not sure myself. I wish I had been there as we wasted the
money for the inspection if we didn't learn from the guy.)

And that's is why I added the NEXT line
* * "The start fiddling around to figure out how to turn it on"
while you work your way back along the gas line.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

From the pix, the key is for the main gas line, then you still have to
lighht a pilot light at the fireplace itself and hold something down
until the thermocouple detects the lit pilot light and then opens the
main gas valve. Have you ever lit the pilot light on a gas hot water
heater? Should be equally hard or easy, depending on how youl look at
the process.

You are correct in what you see (although I'm not sure the purpose of the
key-like thing).

Have you tried turning the key-like thing with the pilot light turned on?
This thing needs electricity. Is it turned on at the fusebox?

Your pictures lead me to this page.
http://marcofireplace.net/index.html
As you can see they are out of business but there is still e-mail help.

I looked at the Lennox manuals and suspect that they will help you. Do
you have a remote control? Have you removed the grayish cover from under the
firegrate?
Keep trying. Don't burn the house down. It's beginning to look a lot like
Christmas.

Dave M.

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
...

Damn near
blew my face off with a gas fireplace that I didn't know how to light.

No doubt it would've been an improvement.

David L. Martel wrote:

Keep trying. Don't burn the house down.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Hello Dave,
I didn't know it works on electricity.
I looked for a remote and for batteries and I see neither.
I don't even see electrical wires.
I checked all the fuseboxes in the house and none are tripped.
I did send an email to the Marco people.
Thanks for finding that site.

Jim wrote:
Attila Iskander wrote:

Put a candle close enough to the burner to light it
when the gas starts coming out.

That's actually the problem.

The gas doesn't start coming out.

When I turn the square key and the on/off switch, I still smell nothing
(whereas, at the stove, I can smell the stink they put in the propane for
that purpose).

I think there may be a third switch, in addition to the key (which, as
noted, might be for a damper and not for the gas - but my wife tells me
the inspection guy said it was for the gas - but she never gets anything
right so I'm not sure myself. I wish I had been there as we wasted the
money for the inspection if we didn't learn from the guy.)

You didn't waste the inspection money just because you didn't learn how to
operate your fireplace.

While an inspection certainly can be a learning experience, that's not the
primary purpose. The primary purpose is to make sure your equipment won't
kill you or your family once you get it operating.

You referred to the inspection as "required". Operator training wasn't the
reason it was required. Safety was.

I didn't know it works on electricity.
I looked for a remote and for batteries and I see neither.

It may not have a remote.

I don't even see electrical wires.

You have a picture of the pilotlight box. It's the box that's inside the
fireplace. I think I see wires there.
I also think I see the igniter. To the right of the pilot light valve
there appears to be a black push button. It's very close to the pilotlight
valve. Let's try pushing that button. Did you get a spark? When you press
(firmly) the pilotlight valve do you hear gas? If not go to the key-like
thing that's outside of the fireplace. Turn it, then repeat pressing the
pilotlight valve. Hear gas now? Ok, push the igniter button. Repeat until
the pilotlight lights. Keep holding the pilotlight valve in for about 30
secs. then rotate the valve to the On position. You can stop pushing on the
valve. It should run now. Remember to turn both valves off when you are done
playing.

Dave M


I checked all the fuseboxes in the house and none are tripped.

That's good. Electricians usually label the circuit breakers and fuses.
Does one say fireplace?

I did send an email to the Marco people.
Thanks for finding that site.

If you gave them your model number they may have a PDF of your manual. I
hope they send you that since you sound lost.

In article ,
"Trevor James" wrote:

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
...

Damn near
blew my face off with a gas fireplace that I didn't know how to light.

No doubt it would've been an improvement.

Au contraire, with my staggering good looks, the world would have
suffered a terrible loss.

David L. Martel wrote:
Your pictures lead me to this page.
http://marcofireplace.net/index.html

Thanks for that advice.
I received an email back from the company (see below) which is weird
because it says it's a "wood burning fireplace" with gas added.

I'm not sure what that means because, any open fireplace is a wood
burning firplace, isn't it?

Here is their email:

Hello and thank you for contacting Lennox Hearth Products.
The pictured fireplace appears to be a wood burning fireplace with
the option of a gas line installed for using a vented gas appliance.
You may log on to our website to find a dealer in your area for parts
and service. www.lennoxhearthproducts.com

Thank you and have a blessed day,
Angie Parish
NFI Certified Gas Technical Service Specialist
1-800-655-2008 731-886-8491 Fax
(remove Xs)

In article , Jim
wrote:

I received an email back from the company (see below) which is weird
because it says it's a "wood burning fireplace" with gas added.

I'm not sure what that means because, any open fireplace is a wood
burning firplace, isn't it?

Nope. Many of them have fake logs and burn only gas. Yours has gas with
which to light the logs, so you don't have to build a fire with kindling.

Smitty Two wrote:

Nope. Many of them have fake logs and burn only gas. Yours has gas with
which to light the logs, so you don't have to build a fire with
kindling.

I didn't realize that mine could burn wood because the "logs"
inside the fireplace are heavy ceramic like fake logs.

The spark igniter jumps a good half inch with a blue spark.
But I have to figure out how to get the gas going.
I'm still reading the threads though. So I will keep trying.

Jim,

I don't know what to make of that answer. They didn't send you any help,
advice, or operator's manual. The "Marco label" is on the fireplace so it's
possible that some other manufacturer made the gas logs. That's all I can
think of
I think you'll need to get someone out there to look at it and advise
you. Your propane guy could light it so give him a call to arrange a visit
or call a plumber with a gas license.
Learn how to start it. Get the name and model number so you can get an
owner's manual. I still think you'll get it running before Christmas.

Dave M.

Jim wrote:
Smitty Two wrote:

Nope. Many of them have fake logs and burn only gas. Yours has gas
with which to light the logs, so you don't have to build a fire with
kindling.

I didn't realize that mine could burn wood because the "logs"
inside the fireplace are heavy ceramic like fake logs.

The spark igniter jumps a good half inch with a blue spark.
But I have to figure out how to get the gas going.
I'm still reading the threads though. So I will keep trying.

Did you watch the YouTube videos? I have a hunch that you have to light the
pilot according to the instructions (push in a hold, etc.).

Or, maybe you could to go to the gas source and from there see if there is
any branch off piping that goes to the fireplace that has a shutoff valve in
it.

On Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:49:28 +0000 (UTC), Jim wrote:

David L. Martel wrote:

Outside of the fireplace I see a key-like thing
I think, coming from the left. Just under the left end of your gas logs,
I see another valve. I could be wrong because I've blown it up a lot. I
see a black rectangle with a lighter colored circle. It's next to the
grate and under the log. I even see writing next to this "knob".

You are correct in what you see (although I'm not sure the purpose of the
key-like thing).

Here are four full-sized pictures in an album:
http://imageshack.us/g/233/fireplacelighting1.jpg/


Just from what I see I would think that the Key is not a "master
valve" but is simply the on-off switch for when you want to turn the
fire on and off. I would think the round black knob is the master
switch and it works just like one on a water heater. Can't read what
it says on it but I would assume that you push it in to light the
pilot, might have to be turned to on or off or in between to push it
in. Once the pilot is lit and has heated the pilot tube you would
turn it all the way to ON and the pilot should stay lit. Then to turn
the fireplace one and off you would turn the key. Of course I could
be wrong but if you can leave the key in the off position and still
get the pilot lit then clearly the key is not a master. OTOH if you
can't light the pilot unless the key is on it must be a master.

Ashton Crusher wrote:

Just from what I see I would think that the Key is not a "master valve"
but is simply the on-off switch for when you want to turn the fire on
and off.

Thanks to the great advice, I finally figured it out!
http://imageshack.us/a/img171/5816/f...lighting50.jpg

The key, turned all the way right, just like a water faucet,
shuts off the propane feed. It takes a few turns to the left to
fully open it up.

I would think the round black knob is the master switch and it
works just like one on a water heater.

The round black knob, it turned out, was the key!
It controlled the starting of the pilot light - and then it controlled
the gas that came up through the bottom of the fireplace.

I would assume that you push it in to light the pilot

You were correct. The pushing was important because otherwise the
pilot light wouldn't ignite even though there was a huge spark from
the push button below and to the right of the black knob.

might have to be turned to on or off or in between to push it in.

Again you were correct. The black knob won't push in until it's
moved to the correct position!
http://imageshack.us/a/img339/6333/f...lighting59.jpg

Once the pilot is lit and has heated the pilot tube you would
turn it all the way to ON and the pilot should stay lit.

Yup. That's exactly what happened.

Then to turn the fireplace one and off you would turn the key.

That makes sense because that would then burn out all the propane
left in the pipe between the key valve and the fireplace. Turning
the black knob to the OFF position also put out the fire.

David L. Martel wrote:

I also think I see the igniter. To the right of the pilot light valve
there appears to be a black push button. It's very close to the
pilotlight valve. Let's try pushing that button. Did you get a spark?

Yes. That was a key piece I was missing.

That igniter, almost hidden below the knob, made a fat blue 1/2 inch
long spark when I pressed it.
http://imageshack.us/a/img24/2280/fi...lighting63.jpg

When you press (firmly) the pilotlight valve do you hear gas?

I had to TURN the pilotlight black valve first, before it could be
pressed - but yet - I heard the hiss (and smelled the gas)!

Keep holding the pilotlight valve in for about 30 secs.
then rotate the valve to the On position.

That did the trick!

You can stop pushing on the valve. It should run now.

It's warming the house right now!
http://imageshack.us/a/img705/8004/f...lighting51.jpg

Remember to turn both valves off when you are done playing.

That gas valve was a good ten inches deep in the woodwork!
http://imageshack.us/a/img12/8798/fi...lighting58.jpg

Why would anyone C clamp open the fireplace flue?

When I tried to open the flue before lighting the fire, I noticed that
the handle to open and close the flue didn't move. It was stuck in place.
http://imageshack.us/a/img809/3208/f...lighting52.jpg

I didn't realize there was a special C clamp on the flue plate until
I went to the other fireplace, which looks like it has never been used.
http://imageshack.us/a/img577/3785/f...lighting67.jpg

There, I saw the same strange C clamp only without the black soot:
http://imageshack.us/a/img560/2425/f...lighting68.jpg

Why would anyone C clamp all my fireplace flues open?

Smitty Two wrote:

I dunno how yours works, but I'd be figuring it out in advance of
fiddling with it after my experience in a vacation rental.

I took some of the vermiculite away from my unused fireplace
and I noticed there is a pipe that doesn't seem to have any
visible holes in it and there is steel wool UNDER the vermiculite.

http://imageshack.us/a/img835/3343/f...lighting66.jpg

My guess as to how it works is that the gas comes out from the
UNDERSIDE of the pipe, and flows through the air pockets of the
steel wool, and then rises up out of the vermiculite.

Because when I light the fireplace, the whole thing explodes into
flame, making it seem like the vermiculite itself is on fire.

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/8004/f...lighting51.jpg

Thanks to you guys, I finally got both fireplaces to light for Christmas!

PROBLEM 1:
The problem with one was I had not known the procedure (see below).

PROBLEM 2:
The problem with the other is that the gas is shooting out too fast & the
sparks are flying in the wrong places so it won't easily light on its own.

Here is the procedure that works on the good fireplace:

1. Open the keyed gas valve about one full turn CCW (master switch).
http://imageshack.us/a/img835/4285/l...fireplace1.jpg

2. Turn the large gas dial to the central position (pilot position).
http://imageshack.us/a/img833/561/li...fireplace2.jpg

3. Push the large gas dial in for about 10 seconds (pilot flow).
http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7943/li...fireplace3.jpg

4. Push the small piezo-electric lighter a few times (light pilot).
http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7384/li...fireplace4.jpg

5. Slowly release pressure on the large dial (pilot should stay lit).
http://imageshack.us/a/img40/8479/li...fireplace5.jpg

6. Turn large dial 1 quarter turn CCW (the gas flow will audibly hiss).
http://imageshack.us/a/img21/3803/li...fireplace6.jpg

7. Whoosh. The entire fireplace should light up in flame.
http://imageshack.us/a/img844/904/li...fireplace0.jpg

On Dec 25, 6:09*pm, Jim wrote:
Thanks to you guys, I finally got both fireplaces to light for Christmas!

PROBLEM 1:
The problem with one was I had not known the procedure (see below).

PROBLEM 2:
The problem with the other is that the gas is shooting out too fast & the
sparks are flying in the wrong places so it won't easily light on its own..

Here is the procedure that works on the good fireplace:

1. Open the keyed gas valve about one full turn CCW (master switch).http://imageshack.us/a/img835/4285/l...fireplace1.jpg

2. Turn the large gas dial to the central position (pilot position).http://imageshack.us/a/img833/561/li...fireplace2.jpg

3. Push the large gas dial in for about 10 seconds (pilot flow).http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7943/li...fireplace3.jpg

4. Push the small piezo-electric lighter a few times (light pilot).http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7384/li...fireplace4.jpg

5. Slowly release pressure on the large dial (pilot should stay lit).http://imageshack.us/a/img40/8479/li...fireplace5.jpg

6. Turn large dial 1 quarter turn CCW (the gas flow will audibly hiss).http://imageshack.us/a/img21/3803/li...fireplace6.jpg

7. Whoosh. The entire fireplace should light up in flame.http://imageshack.us/a/img844/904/li...fireplace0.jpg

there may be a bad regulator on the one that appears to have too much
gas........

i had a regulator failure on my gas grill that acted like yours.

for safetys sake get it checked